THE INTAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 533, 25 September 1871, Page 2

THE INTAKE.

Anyone whose business or inclination palled him yesterday to Lower Queen - street must have been forcibly impressed the strange neglect of even tempo-, rm-y .relief from the horrible nuisance at the wharf. The steuclr was absolutely unbearable at times, and irrespective of its pestilential character, in&icted positive. pain on those compelled to inhale it. This "no man's land" has been so long the subject of comment, and so long on tile eve of being placed in a less disgraceful state, that it is difficult to become convinced that the desired object is nearer attainment than ever it tvas before, even although a species of treaty has been made recording their frontiers by the two corporate bodies—the Harbour Board and City Council. But whether the proper disposal of the subject v near or far of!', it is strange that s'eps arc not taken .to. aflPor'd relief in the meantime; It. will be recollected that some few months ago, by orders of the Provincial Government, men were employed to remove the accumulations of sewage deposits from the intake, and a large quantity of abominable stuff having been taken away, and a track opened from the mouth of the sewer to low-water line, th'o nuisance was very greatly kept under so lbng as these alterations were continued. It is not too much to ask that the " high contracting^tartips" at present deliberating respecting tlie " neutral ground-": /should depute some ot their ©ulcers.to rfepeait the simple,remedy.: The days are getting warm, and the nuisance.in proportion, more offensiye, and until the sovereignty over this "debatable territory" has been fixed,' and the rights and responsibilities of each power defined, we think it is not too much to expect that the offensivet^eas of the place in question' should be kept within bearable limits, when it can be done at so small expense. To the two important and leading hotels—the Thanes and .Waiteinata—exactly fronting the site of tho nuisance, the present state of the intake must be a great injury, while nil up jjower Queen-street/.'and the most crowded thoroughfare of the city, are subjected to a condition of atmosphere ihat should not bo allowed to continue. We trust that the character which the nuisance has "assumed to-day, and which is the first sniff which we have had of the enjoyments of the summer, will pron'pt to immediate action for giving this temporary relief.